Nudity and children
Attitudes toward the nudity of children vary substantially, depending on the child's culture, age and the context of the nudity. Among some people they have changed noticeably since the mid 20th century, largely due to increasing concerns about sexual abuse of children.
One of the more traditional attitudes regards children who have not yet reached puberty, or perhaps a younger age, or until a significant rite of passage, as essentially asexual, and treats their nudity as harmlessly innocent. This is most commonly true of infants, who are often depicted nude without negative social connotation. The work of Anne Geddes, for example, often depicts nude infants in scenes that would be considered in quite a different light if the children were several years older. In some cultures, it may be acceptable for male children to be seen nude by females, but not vice versa[citation needed]. This was formerly the practice in parts of the rural United States, for example.
In many places children are taught to never to be seen nude by those of the opposite sex (especially of the same approximate age). In these circumstances, children would be ashamed or very embarrassed if anyone (except perhaps a parent, sibling or other close relative) of the opposite sex saw them nude. They may even be subject to giggling and teasing by clothed children of similar culture. However, children of this age may also be motivated by their curiosity to covertly expose themselves to a child of the other gender in exchange for them doing the same ("I'll show you mine if you show me yours"). This attitude toward nudity and gender separatism usually peaks at about age nine, later very gradually changing to allow for a (potential) sexual partner to eventually see them nude.
Increasing awareness of the fact that children are sexually abused has created a partial backlash in developed countries against the general trend toward increasing acceptance of public nudity, especially of children, not mistrusting their sexual innocence but precisely their vulnerability to sexual aroused adult observers. In some cases, any public nudity of a person under the age of consent might be accused of being abusive. Perhaps not coincidentally, swimwear fashions for children have become less revealing over this same time period.
On the other hand, many parents believe nudity is both physically and emotionally healthy for children. They make no issue of their children seeing either each other or their parents in the nude in everyday domestic situations, such as taking shower etc. They will also often allow, and sometimes even encourage, their children to play together in the nude when it is appropriate to do so, for example in the paddling pool on a hot day, or on the beach. Very often they will allow this to continue until the child's social self awareness takes effect, usually at around 7 years old although this can vary. Studies suggest that nudity in very young children also helps with toilet training[1].
In some countries, most notably the Czech Republic, it is commonplace for young school-children to participate in nude swimming, spa - and sauna sessions as part of their school's physical education curriculum. However, across the World, debates are unresolved about the acceptability of child nudity.
Many practioneers of social nudity do not believe that nudity harms children or otherwise promotes abuse (assuming the child has no qualms about it). In virtually all cases of childhood sexual abuse, both the victim and their abuser were of clothed culture. They say being away from public view and secrecy, not nudity, leads to abuse: any male who shows arousal at children can easily be identified within an all nudist setting; whereas in a clothed environment it would be much more difficult. Furthermore, they believe children of clothed culture tend to have 'forbidden fruit' curiosities about the nude body and sex that naturist children do not have.
Even though most sexual abuse is committed by people the victims know, even for children exposure that would be forbidden in public is often allowed or even encouraged in familiar circles, amongst their peers (at least same sex) and/or with relatives or educators.
Whether depiction of child nudity is considered inappropriate varies, see also Nudity in art.
There have been incidents in which snapshots taken by parents of their infant or toddler children bathing or otherwise naked were destroyed or turned over to law enforcement as child pornography. In New Zealand photographs of naked minors in newspapers and magazines were once socially acceptable, but would invoke horror and revulsion amongst the readership if published today.
See also
References
- ^ DeBroff, Stacy. "Ready for Potty Training?". Retrieved 2006-09-13.